Euro Naval Strength

I quick assesment of the various european navies suggests a considerable combined strength.

Aircraft Carriers, Assault Ships, Helicopter carriers:

UK:

HMS Queen Elizabeth (aircraft carrier, 60,000 tons)... proposed
HMS Prince of Wales (aircraft carrier, 60,000 tons)... proposed
HMS Illustrious (aircraft carrier, 20,710 tons)
HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier, 20,710 tons)
HMS Invincible (aircraft carrier, 20,710 tons)... currently in reserve

HMS Ocean (helicopter assault ship, 21,578 tons)

HMS Albion (landing platform dock, 21,500 tons)
HMS Bulwark (landing platform dock, 21,500 tons)

France:

Unknown (aircraft carrier, 65-74,000 tons)... proposed
Unknown/CVF (aircraft carrier, 60,000 tons)... proposed
Charles de Gaulle (nuclear aircraft carrier, 40,600 tons)

Mistral (helicopter assault ship, 32,300 tons)
Tonnerre (helicopter assault ship, 32,300 tons)

Foudre (Landing platform dock, 12,000 tons)
Siroco (landing platform dock, 12,000 tons)

Jeanne d'Arc (helicopter carrier, 10,575 tons)

Ouragan (landing platform dock, 8500 tons)
Orage (landing platform dock, 8500 tons)

Italy:

Giuseppe Garibaldi (aircraft carrier, 13,850 tons)
Cavour (aircraft Carrier, 27,000 tons)... finalising construction
Alcide de Gasperi (aircraft carrier, 25 - 30,000 tons)... proposed

Spain:

Príncipe de Asturias (aircraft carrier, 17,190 tons)
Buque de Proyección Estratégica (assault carrier, 30,000 tons)... under construction

Galicia (landing platform dock)
Castilla (landing platform dock)


That makes 6 Carriers currently availible (133,770 tons) with a further 2 carriers (57,000 tons) under construction.

There are currently 5 Proposed Carriers with a total tonnage exceding 280,000 tons


Europe also has availible 4 helicopter carriers/assault ships (96,753 tons) and a further 8 landing platforms docks (100,000+ tons).




[edit on 27-3-2007 by Lucretius]

Nearly all the "super" carrier's in that list are a about 5-6 years away from seeing service.

The Italian "Cavour" is due to enter service next year and the Spanish "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" will enter service in the next couple of years.

Originally posted by Lucretius
The Italian "Cavour" is due to enter service next year and the Spanish "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" will enter service in the next couple of years.

They're not "super" carriers though, if I remember rightly. Just the run of mill escort carrier size, like the Invincible Class.

I shall of course check though

Indeed they are, both just over 27,000 tons. Roughly the same size as the Invincible.

Not trying to piss on yopur post, but just pointing out alot of the larger vessels listed are a long way from completion

[edit on 27/3/07 by stumason]

roughly 1/4 larger than the invincible class (20,710 tons) I believe...

OF course they don't really match up to the large carriers proposed by the UK and France, but they are a step up from the "little" 10-20 thousand ton carriers they fielded before

[edit on 27-3-2007 by Lucretius]

[edit on 27-3-2007 by Lucretius]

Indeed. In 2012-15 when the UK and French one's are complete, then combined, the EU naval forces will be formidable.

Still behind the US at present though

US:

USS kitty hawk (aircraft carrier, 82,200 tons)
USS Enterprise (nuclear aircraft carrier, 93,500 tons)
USS Nimitz (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Carl Vinson (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Theodore Roosevelt (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Abraham Lincoln (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS George Washington (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS John C. Stennis (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Harry S. Truman (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS Ronald Reagan (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)
USS George H. W. Bush (nuclear aircraft carrier, 102,000 tons)... Under construction

USS Tarawa (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Saipan (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Nassau (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Peleliu (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)

USS Wasp (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Essex (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Kearsarge (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Boxer (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Bataan (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Bonhomme (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Iwo Jima (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)
USS Makin Island (assault carrier, 40,500 tons)... Under construction

USS Whidbey Island (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Germantown (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Fort McHenry (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Gunston Hall (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Comstock (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Tortuga (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Rushmore (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)
USS Ashland (landing ship dock, 16,360 tons)

USS Harpers Ferry (landing ship dock, 16,601 tons)
USS Carter Hall (landing ship dock, 16,601 tons)
USS Oak Hill (landing ship dock, 16,601 tons)
USS Pearl Harbor (landing ship dock, 16,601 tons)

11 Supercarriers (1,093,700 tons) with a further 1 (102,000 tons) under construction

11 Assault/helicopter carriers (445,500 tons) with a further 1 (40,500 tons)under construction

12 Landing ship docks (197,284 tons)

Indeed. The Yanks seem to have caught the carrier bug somewhat and can't stop churning the things out

They do cost a pretty penny though.

Lucretius thats because the united states is a war machine
its largest export is military hardware
with the largest miliatry presence in the world so its not supprising that its fleet is larger then that of ours in europe

Good to see the EU investing in Naval Power. If we didnt have safe shipping lanes Global trade would grind to a quick halt. Something like 99 percent of all transported goods are shipped by sea.

Security of such shipping should be shared among friendly nations